Patient Privacy and Confidentiality

To provide you with quality, ongoing healthcare, we need to collect your personal, medical and family health information.

Your medical record is a confidential document and it is the policy of our Clinic to maintain security of personal health information at all times.

Personal Information, Privacy and Your Doctor.

Your Access to Your Health Information

You may ask your doctor about any aspect of your health care including information in your record. You may also request access to the information contained in your medical record. We believe that sharing information is important for good communication between you and your doctor and for good health care.

Information in your record can be provided to you by way of discussion with your doctor, who can provide you with an up to date summary of your care. Your doctor will be pleased to provide a full explanation of the information provided.

If you do request a summary or direct access to your full medical record, there are some circumstances in which access will be restricted or denied. Your doctor will explain the reason for this if it applies.

If you are moving and wish to transfer your care to another doctor, we are happy to transfer a copy or summary of your health record to your new doctor. Please ask your new doctor to provide their written request for this information which contains your signed consent authorising the transfer.

Depending on what is involved, you may be asked to contribute to the cost of providing the information when transferring or accessing your medical record. Fees associated with this are not claimable on Medicare.

In accordance with our Practice’s Health Information Management Policy, and to reflect the increased expectations for patient confidentiality and privacy, we will ask you to provide photo ID prior to access to or the release of personal medical information.

Please ask at Reception for a copy of our complete Privacy and Security of Personal Health Information Policy.

Further Information about Privacy Legislation

Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
GPO Box 5218 Sydney NSW 2001
www.oaic.gov.au
1300 363 992
Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner (SA) (Monday—Thursday)
PO Box 199 Rundle Mall Adelaide SA 5000
www.hcscc.sa.gov.au
08 8226 8666 / 1800 232 00

Your Personal Health Information

Information is called “personal health information” if it concerns your health, medical history or past or future medical care, and if someone accessing it would be able to identify you. It is necessary for us to collect personal medical and family health information from patients to provide quality ongoing healthcare and for associated administrative purposes.

Your attendance at this practice is taken as consent to the collection and appropriate use of your personal health information.

Your Medical Record

We will only collect information which is relevant to providing health care to you. Your consent will be sought to collect the information that is needed to make an accurate medical diagnosis, prescribe appropriate treatment, make referrals to other providers or agencies, and to be proactive in patient health care. It may also be used to assist with financial claims and payments, practice audits and accreditation, and training of staff. If you are uncertain as to why information is being requested, ask your doctor.

All patient information held by this practice will be maintained so that it is accurate, complete and up to date. It may be used to remind you, with your permission, to return for follow-up, check-ups and reviews.